Legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar suggests that Ravi Bishnoi should be India’s favored wrist-spinner for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA in June. With India set to face Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series, beginning in Mohali on Thursday, January 11, Ravi Bishnoi and Kuldeep Yadav are the two wrist-spinners included in the Men in Blue’s 16-member squad for the series.
Sunil Gavaskar’s recommendation raises questions about the selection of the spinning combination for the upcoming T20 World Cup and the potential role of these wrist spinners in the tournament. Ravi Bishnoi can be a trump card as the pitches in Caribbean are quite rank turners where the batters can be foxed.
Ravi Bishnoi is a better fielder than Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal- Sunil Gavaskar
During an interaction on the Star Sports ‘Game Plan’ show, Sunil Gavaskar was asked to choose between Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal as India’s preferred wrist-spinner for the upcoming global event. He replied
“Ravi Bishnoi for me because apart from bowling, he is a very good fielder. He is a better fielder than Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal,”
“He can bat as well, the way he applied his brains and won his side the match with his calmness in the last IPL, I feel he and Avesh Khan had won their side the match against RCB. So Ravi Bishnoi for me.”
Ravi Bishnoi has demonstrated his effectiveness in T20Is, picking up 34 wickets at a reasonable economy rate of 7.14 in 21 matches. Despite being named the Player of the Series for the five T20Is at home against Australia, he did not get the opportunity to play in any game during the recent South African tour.
Arshdeep Singh is far ahead- Irfan Pathan
When asked about the race for a place in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup squad among Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, and Avesh Khan, Irfan Pathan replied:
“Arshdeep Singh is far ahead. He has not performed as well in T20 cricket as we were expecting for sure but he performed very well in ODI cricket on the South African tour. It will be easy for him to carry that confidence into T20 cricket based on his skills,”
The former India all-rounder believes that Arshdeep Singh’s left-handed angle and his effectiveness in bowling during both powerplay and at the death provide him with a headstart over Mukesh Kumar and Avesh Khan. Irfan said,
“The IPL will be extremely important but among these three, I feel Arshdeep Singh is ahead at the moment. Mukesh and Avesh have the skills, but being a left-armer who can bowl with the new ball and yorkers with the old ball, Arshdeep brings different skills that are needed in a team,”
Arshdeep Singh has not been at his best off late in the T20I format. But he showcased his impact in the recent three-match ODI series against South Africa, picking up 10 wickets and earning the Player of the Series award.